Customer Reviews

The Floating Gods

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Street by street, a plague of despair and lethargy is slowly consuming the city of Viriconium. Neither cause nor cure is obvious. Is it the art dealer Paulinus Rack, warping the artists of the Low City into sentimental hacks for the rich of the High City? Is it the Barley Brothers, the two drunken idiots who may or may not be gods? Or is it the murderous little dwarf, "from the north or the sky," remaking a small quarter of the city for his own hidden reasons?

As the third book in the Viriconium saga, The Floating Gods takes a different approach to themes it holds in common with the first two books in the series: the culmination and demise of art and science, a threatening invasion, and transformation. Our protagonist is a painter instead of a warrior. As with all of Harrison's work, The Floating Gods is exceptionally well written, short, and satisfying to no end; the kind of book that benefits from multiple readings. I heartily recommend the entire Viriconium series.

Any UK fans of M.John Harrison beware - this book was sold in the UK as "In Viriconium", so you may already have it. Don't be like me and splash out $27 on another copy!

That said, if you don't have this book you should get it - it is among the best novels I have ever read, and exists in a world between fantasy and reality, where you have to keep pinching yourself to be sure of where you are.